Equity-based compensation provides an excellent solution for practice owners who need a reward system that goes beyond the traditional salary/bonus structure and shares the economic value of equity, but not equity itself.
A critical element in the success of any small business is its ability to recruit, reward, and retain talented advisors and support staff. To this end, equity compensation is often used to achieve these goals. Synthetic equity is a tool set that can provide ownership-level benefits without buying or selling actual stock in an advisory business.
To be clear, the process of transforming a single-owner practice into a sustainable business generally relies on equity. Equity, or stock, is what next-generation advisors invest in, and over time and with hard work benefit from, above and beyond what compensation alone can provide. Equity is the shareholder value created in a business managed from a bottom-line up perspective with a focus on earnings or profits as the ultimate financial goal. Equity is a powerful building and motivational tool, but with the opportunities come obligations. Because of these obligations, buying or selling equity isn’t the only way to offer key employees ownership-like benefits, nor is it always the best option.
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Topics:
Succession Planning,
Equity,
Multi-Generational Ownership,
Business Growth,
Talent Recruitment
“Instead of focusing on the circumstances that you cannot change—focus strongly and powerfully on the circumstances that you can.” –Joy Page
One of my favorite movies of all time is Casablanca. This 1942 American romantic drama is revered for its cinematic quality, lead characters, fantastic writing, and pervasive theme song “As Time Goes By.” It is set in a time of war, upheaval, and great uncertainty; in fact, the movie is the perfect foil for the underlying message that we control our fate through direct action. There are many scenes that highlight that message, but Joy Page was a part of one particular scene that foreshadows the ending of the movie and reinforces her thoughts as expressed above.
In this scene, Humphrey Bogart, playing the lead character Rick Blaine, tells the husband of a newly-wed Romanian couple to make a bet on the roulette table at Rick’s Café Américain casino. To summate the plot line, earlier in the movie, Rick had turned down helping the newly-wed wife played by Joy Page citing that he helps no one to avoid the suspicion of the Vichy police.
As the plot line continues, Rick has a change of heart and whispers in the husband’s ear to make a risky bet on the rigged roulette table. With a little help, the husband wins enough money to buy a passage out of Casablanca for himself and his new wife. The action that Rick takes in this scene foreshadows his later actions that free Victor Laszlo and his wife, Ilsa Lund, from the Germans and Vichy Police in Casablanca. The rest is cinematic history.
In times of uncertainty, it is always wise to focus on what you directly control, as pointed out by Ms. Page’s quote. Whether we look at current politics, markets, regulation, news, or the current state of the financial services industry, there have been (and always will be) many events outside of your control as a practice owner that affect your work. How do you deal with this constant noise? Recognize it for what it is and focus on the things you can control with direct action.
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Topics:
Commentary,
Organizational Structure,
Business Growth,
Continuity,
Talent Recruitment,
Sustainability
Building a sustainable business requires reaching across the generation gap and tapping into the energy and talent of younger professionals.
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Topics:
Business Growth,
Culture,
Next Generation,
Talent Recruitment
Today’s independent financial advisors face an endless array of opportunities (and challenges). The key is to identify impediments before they arise and to develop strategies for tackling the issues that present the greatest opportunities for improvement and growth.
There are four main challenges essential to the success of your business:
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Topics:
Compensation,
Succession Planning,
Acquisition,
Business Growth,
M&A,
Next Generation,
Talent Recruitment,
Enterprise
In this Roundtable Talk, the next-generation ownership of FP Transitions discuss their own experiences in taking the mantle to shape the team and future of the business. They explore hiring for cultural fit and potential value, the definition of “ownership mentality,” and how they might identify potential G3 leaders in the generation beyond their own.
Watch a short clip below and click here to watch the full, unscripted discussion.
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Topics:
Succession Planning,
Next Generation,
Talent Recruitment,
Enterprise
In the October 2019 issue of the Journal of Financial Planning, FP Transitions' Christine Sjölin, VP of Strategic Development and Operations, contributed her article "Lay the Foundation for the Next Generation of Ownership." The article discusses the importance–and challenge–of seeking out and recruiting next-generation talent in the financial services industry. Christine explores implementing internship opportunities to recruiting new advisors, strategies for talent retention, and how to incorporate ownership opportunities into your compensation structure.
Read her full article, "Lay the Foundation for the Next Generation of Ownership," now at onefpa.org
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Topics:
Succession Planning,
FPT in the News,
FPA,
Next Generation,
Talent Recruitment,
Sustainability,
Journal of Financial Planning
In our newest Roundtable Talk, Elite Client Consultant Kem Taylor and President David Grau Sr., JD, discuss the importance of time when it comes to planning, executing, and evolving your succession plan. During the conversation they cover examples of how FP Transitions has helped business owners navigate any changes to their plan including accelerating the timeline, adjusting the next-generation ownership team, and falling back to “Plan B”–selling the business.
Watch a short clip below and click here to watch the full, unscripted discussion.
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Topics:
Succession Planning,
Next Generation,
Talent Recruitment,
Enterprise
The transfer of ownership to a team of next generation talent allows a business to leverage the individual strengths and fresh energy of a younger generation. As a new advisor, ownership provides stability, equity stake, and voice in the future of the business. As a founder, incorporating this team elevates your business, secures longevity, and sparks a new level of growth. The arrangement creates a win-win opportunity for both the founder and the next generation owners.
In our new Roundtable Talk, Elite Client Consultant, Kem Taylor, and our President and Founder, David Grau Sr., JD, discuss the process of going from next generation advisor to next generation owner and the common questions that come with it. They explore the benefits for both founder and next generation owners as well as the importance of communication between the generations for a successful integration.
Click here to watch the full, unscripted discussion.
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Topics:
Succession Planning,
Talent Recruitment,
Equity Pathways,
Enterprise
Independent financial advisors face an almost overwhelming set of challenges, but with challenges come opportunities. Many of these challenges fall into areas of:
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Growth & Profitability
- Talent Retention
- Succession Planning
These opportunities and challenges are often interrelated. Tackling one challenge often helps solve another, thereby strengthening your business in other ways. A successful acquisition is supported by a strong enterprise that is capable of handling exponential growth, and building a strong enterprise requires the incorporation of next generation talent. Retaining and nurturing next generation talent is made possible with the proper compensation systems, and maintaining an effective compensation system demands business profitability. Bottom-line profitability increases when it is properly balanced with top-line growth. Finally, to bring it all together, growth is supported by building a strong, sustainable enterprise.
In this new webcast, President and Founder David Grau Sr., JD, discusses the top challenges and opportunities of the profession and how they can be addressed using an end-to-end, integrated strategy.
View webcast clip below and click here to watch the full video.
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Topics:
Compensation,
Succession Planning,
M&A,
Talent Recruitment,
Equity Pathways,
Enterprise
In our new Roundtable Talk, Founder and President, David Grau Sr., JD, and Elite Client Consultant, Kem Taylor, CBEC®, explore internal succession and describe how both the succession process and business growth can benefit from multigenerational experiences and knowledge from all owners.
They also discuss other factors that benefit the succession planning process, including:
- Acknowledging the "time" factor – having enough time to plan for, implement, and make adjustments to a gradual, internal transition of ownership
- Helping next generation advisors understand the benefits and responsibilities of ownership
- Recognizing that each succession path is different
- Exploring "where you are" and "where you're going" before jumping into the process
Click here to watch the full, unscripted discussion.
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Topics:
Succession Planning,
Talent Recruitment,
Equity Pathways,
Enterprise
